Intel Announces Edison, the SD Card-Sized Computer

Intel announced at CES 2014 in Las Vegas that it has developed a computer the size of an SD card, dubbed the Edison development board. It’s power-efficient and can be configured to work with a multitude of devices outside of just computers, phones, and tablets. The Edison board is intended to work with objects including chairs, coffee mugs, and home appliances by turning them into smart devices.

The Intel Edison board houses a dual-core, 22nm Intel Quark processor running at 400MHz and features Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. It is designed to give all inventors and entrepreneurs a leg up in developing smart technology that can speak to other objects and devices that have an Intel Edison Board installed.

One example included a onesie with an Edison board embedded into it, making it act as a smart baby monitor that could track a baby’s breathing, temperature, and motion. Intel also demonstrated how the technology can extend to wearable devices, which typically require a second piece of equipment like a smartphone app. With the Edison board, smart watches and fitness trackers wouldn’t need a smartphone or tablet app to deliver pertinent information to the user.

Intel also announced a competition, awarding $500,000 and connections with Intel to whoever can develop the best wearable design using the Edison board.

Clearly part of Intel’s ongoing war with low-power competitors ARM, the Intel Quark was unveiled last year at IDF, Intel’s developers forum.